In the global market for personal computers, 2010 was a watershed year. For the first time PC shipments to emerging economies outpaced those mature markets, 174 million to 173 million.

This turning point underscores how emerging economies have become the driving force behind PC software piracy, which leapt 14 percent globally in 2010 to $59 billion. This figure has nearly doubled in real terms since 2003.

Study Highlights

The study's key findings are highlighted in a roundtable discussion with Matt Reid, BSA; John Gantz, IDC; and Trent Ross, Ipsos Public Affairs.

The global piracy rate dropped by 1 point from 2009 to 42 percent — which remains the second-highest global rate in the study's history.

Half of the 116 economies studied in 2010 had piracy rates of 62 percent or higher, and two-thirds had at least one software program pirated for every one installed legally.

Emerging economies now account for more than half the global value of PC software theft, $31.9 billion.